This Texas Barber Gives Free Haircuts to the Homeless

We talked to Rudy Ibanez, who gives free haircuts to the homeless in San Antonio, TX, every Sunday.

Rudy Ibanez spends his Sundays giving free haircuts to homeless men. (And so far, one woman.) The 21-year-old, who started cutting hair at age 12, sees this as his way of doing something good for the world.

Featured on local and national news, Ibanez is taking the attention in stride. We called him at the barber shop where he works in San Antonio, and like a professional athlete, he most of all wants to let people know the importance of "just staying humble".

Where do you cut hair on Sundays?
I drive around until I see a homeless person. Then I just pick them up, or cut their hair on the spot, you know. It depends.

Does the homeless population in San Antonio know you by sight?
Yeah, they really know me by my car. I'll pull up and they pretty much know who I am. They'll say, "Oh there's Rudy! There's Rudy!"

What is the most popular haircut you give them?
The most popular haircut I give is a comb over. It's a new style that a lot of people have been getting at the shop. So I thought, why not let me try it out on some homeless people, let me see how it goes from there. And a lot of have been liking it, so...

What has a getting new haircut changed for these men?
The last guy I cut had a doctor's appointment the next day. I want to see what the doctor is going to say, 'cause he usually shows up with a big beard and long hair. I'm gonna follow up with him. But I gotta wait until Sunday. A lot of the reaction has been from their friends, the people they hang out with. It's like, "Oh he looks good!" You know? There's a lot of smiling.

It makes them feel good?
Yes m'am, it really does.

Do you just do men's hair or have you cut women's hair too?
Yeah, I've only done one women's cut so far. Just the ends, nothing too serious.

What else has happened since you've gotten all this media attention?
Well I've been getting a lot of opportunities. A lot of people want to fly me out to like Miami, or other places. A guy called me the other day who wants to fly me to California, and do a little story. I'd be up for whatever.